Before the Door of God

“[Before the Door of God] may in some small way help to restore your faith in the dignity and gravity of poetry. And that, dear reader, is no mean accomplishment.”—David Wojahn, Kenyon Review

“The moments in which we reach for prayer [are] the moments in which this book becomes indispensable. Johnson and Hopler are expert curators, and the book they have made is for anyone interested in the questions we ask when there aren’t any immediate answers.”—Luke Johnson, Marginalia Review of Books

“Crucial. . . . Spans the entirety of the English poetry canon. . . . It is difficult to imagine English poetry without the stunningly memorable devotional poetry included in this book. . . . Groundbreaking.”—Philip Metres, Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A beautifully produced volume . . . designed for pleasurable reading. Brief but thought-provoking essays introduce each section, and cogent headnotes introduce each author.”—David Danoff, Tikkun

“This rich and unique compendium of poetry will delight those interested in traditional English poems of devotion, in the ancient roots of the tradition, and in contemporary devotional poets who may be less familiar. . . . The surprises in this collection are manifold.”—J. P. Baumgaertner, Choice
Runner-up for the 2014 Great Southeast Book Festival in the Poetry category

Winner of the 2014 USA Best Book Awards in the Religion/General category